PCOS Weight Loss Stories! Success stories, and before, during and after pics! - Page 2

blessings4life · 05-21-2003, 02:43 PM

Hey Ladies! I've been browsing through some of the boards over the past month or so and finally decided to join. I've been overweight for about 4 years, not knowing what was causing it at that time. I was diagnosed with PCOS in July 2001. Before being diagnosed with PCOS, I was depressed for years....and after being diagnosed, the depression grew more and more. I have been on every anti-depressant that you can think of, but I wanted to do something within my control to build my confidence. I have tried MANY plans in the past to include phentermine, xenical, meridia, slim-fast, starving myself, etc. I exercised also and would lose weight but would always quickly gain it back. Finally, I did research on the Atkins Plan and The Zone. I customized my own plan which includes limiting (not totally excluding carbs), eating a high protein diet, and lots of veggies. My starting weight was 225 lbs and in the first month, I had lost 20lbs!!! Then I added exercise into the program (walking briskly for 40 minutes per day) and quickly lost 15 more lbs. I am currently at 190 lbs and feeling excellent!!! I am TTC and feel that my weight loss and new way of eating will drastically help me to succeed (at least I pray that will happen). This new way of life has improved me in different ways: emotionally (not as depressed), mentally (more alert), physically (decreased blood pressure, no more snoring at night, can sleep better, etc), and spiritually (feel a sense of peace inside). I FINALLY discovered something that I can stick to for a life time....This is NOT a diet, but a way of life that I shall continue. The benefits of this are amazing. I know that many ladies here have lost way more than I have and I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS...because I know that your quality of life has vastly improved. Keep up the great work! Thanks for your support everyone!

Rainy

Vanessa · 05-21-2003, 04:06 PM

OK I am going to join this thread now too

. I have lost 41.5 pounds in the last 6 months doing a sort of low-carb weight watchers. I don't go to meetings- just got all the info from a friend of mine who is also a cyster and we have been doing it together. I started at 170 pounds and I am 5' 5.5". I want to get down to 120 pounds. I am so much healthier now I can't believe how good I feel. I get AF regularly and I no longer have back pain or pain in my feet! I finally got the motivation to lose weight when I had tried Spiro for over a year and it hadn't made any difference in my facial hair and seemed to be making it worse. I went to the gyno and told him that I was going off it and asked if there was anything he could tell me or give me to help with weight loss as I felt that was the only thing that was going to help with the hair. He told me that the only thing that had helped his patients consistently was Weight Watchers so I decided to give it a try as all I had to lose was weight lol! I have not started any exercise yet but will do so soon to firm everything up. I am eating very healthy now with emphasis on veggies and lean meat instead of breads and pasta and anything processed. I do have a little treat now and then to fend off any craving as it is so much better than to let the craving build up and then overindulge. Way to go all you cysters! Keep up the good work!

boodles77 · 05-21-2003, 05:18 PM

As of today, I have lost 42 pounds. I started low carbing in September of 2002. Then Christmas came, and we were in the process of moving, so I lost the momentum. Somehow, though, I only gained 2 or three pounds. At the beginning of this month, I jumped back on the bandwagon of low carbing. I don't follow any one diet. I just watch the carb content of the foods that I eat and try to keep my carbs to 20g/day or less.

My husband and I are currently having a competition to see who can lose the weight the fastest. Every time I lose ten pounds, he buys me a rose. When I reach my goal weight, he is buying me a dress and taking me to a resort on the ocean for a weekend. I have some great incentives! BTW, I decided on what my short term and long term rewards would be!

peaceful_kuan · 05-22-2003, 02:39 PM

I am only 6 weeks out of surgery, but I have lost 33lbs and feeling great. Before for years I had did all the diets, pills, shakes, and programs. I would lose a few then gain those + more back.
This surgery is a very hard one (for me) But every step has been worth it. I do not regret having it. I am much more active and I am having my FIRST period in almost a year. I never thought I would be able to have another one without being on meds or birth control. Well I do not take any meds for PCOS now. I had high blood pressure and on meds..I am now off them as well and my BP is normal.
So far I have went from a 20-22 to a size 16/18 (mostly 18). As my story progresses I will update.
Happy Thoughts!!
Lisa
211/178/i do not have a goal weight..other than healthy and happy with my size

dee2002 · 05-22-2003, 03:33 PM

Hi every i have lost some more weigh now i weigh 10 stone and 1 pound and a half only few more pounds to lose untill i get to my target i went to see my gyno he said he want me to go carb diet but he didnt tell me what it mean and its a week untill i go to slimming herts and see my leader can any one help me please

Celestine · 05-28-2003, 11:56 PM

I am not sure this would actually count as a success story per se but...I lost about 40 pounds in 1997, I weighed 243 then, I started walking every day - sometimes I walked 12 miles in a week - and loosely following the old weight watchers plan (4 protein servings -each the size of a deck of cards, LOL, 3 veggies, 2 dairy, 2 fruit, 5 bread) and lost it in about 3 months, went down to 197-203 and have pretty much stayed in that range since then, 2 times I went up to around 210 but when I started watching my calories/portions and walking again it came off pretty easily. I have now been sitting at the same weight for these past 6 years though and I know it is because I quit walking so much. I am one of those people who needs to stay in constant physical activity to stay smaller, I guess my success is in maintaining what I did manage to lose.

Shannon _Richardson · 05-29-2003, 12:26 AM

I have lost 42 pounds since Feb of this year. Most of that has came off in the past 2 months since I have really began to buckle down with a low carb diet. Pretty much useing the IR plan. And I walk each day at least a mile. I lost about 15-20 pounds early last year and gave up but didn't gain any weight back thank God.

dee2002 · 05-29-2003, 06:22 PM

hi i have lost from weigh i use to be 13 stone and 13 and a half pounds now i am 10 stone

Britsky · 06-02-2003, 05:04 PM

I got my 16 weekj charm last week for weight watchers, and as of last Tuesday, week from tomorrow, I've lost 42.8!

eadreel · 06-12-2003, 07:37 AM

I just wanted to tell my story, and I am a newly dx PCOSer.
Nov 02 I went to my doc compaining of a pain below the right side of my ribcage. Dx with nonalcoholic fatty liver. Prescrip-lose weight. My weight at that date was 265lbs.
Doctor supervised weight loss and blood panels every month to check liver functions and cholesterol.
So I go in about a week ago to get my shots and some anti-malarial meds for my trip to Korea in a couple of weeks. Off hand I state that I haven't had a period for about 2 years and I say that I know it is because I am fat. Well, along with the skin tag he noticed on my eye, and the hairs that I missed on my chin and neck, he sends me to get some blood work done, but I figure it is my liver and cholesterol panels again. The next day the nurse calls to give me my blood panel results. We start with the liver-normal ranges. Cholesterol-still high, but improving my HDL levels, then she starts in with LH and FSH figures and she says the doc thinks I may have PCOS-I'm clueless- and to schedule an ultra sound. So I do. Bladder won't fill so I reschedule and still no filling, so she does the internal one- which is very uncomfortable to me because I have been so fat so long that I have severe scarring on my inner thighs, and boils and just nasty. After I go home and just relax and the next day the doc calls and says to come in asap to see him. So I get dressed and go down there and he tells me all about PCOS and that I have it and showed me my ultrasound pictures. So I go on the Glucophage and he tells me not to eat low carb because I'm not IR and if I do eat low carb I will be sick. I ignored this and ate low carb for the first couple of days and wow. Sick as a dog with low bloodsugars. So I start eating how I was eating and I am fine, no side effects at all.

As of June 7, 03 I have lost 47lbs, 10 inches in my waist, and 8 inches in my hips. I am down to 218lbs.

I don't work and don't have my dh here to cook for and buy his high fat foods, which I love, so I am eating how I need to eat. I don't work and I graduated in May from my college, so I have decided this year alone is my year for my body. I am walking five hours a week and doing callanetics 3 hours a week. My best friend is my rock in this and my exercise partner, so we are keeping each other on track really well.

What got me motivated really well was my health and wellness class. I got that hit between the eyes epiphany that if I didn't lose weight, exercised and quit smoking I was gonna die sooner rather than later. I got the diet and exercise down now, so I quit smoking on June 13, yes tomorrow.

for seven years I thought that irregular cycles were because I was fat. I thought that my skin tags, acne and abnormal hair growth was because I smoked. Had I known all this and not been too embarrassed to talk to my assigned military doctor, I would have not had the problems I have let go for this long.

I am so glad to know that I am not a freak. I am sooo happy to know that I have a medical problem and it isn't some screwed up genetics. I am glad something can be done about it, and that my doctor put four and four together and got eight. I can't wait till my hair is under control, my acne and the skin tags too.

finding this message board and this site has been my godsend and my support since I have no one here to let me know I will be ok. Somehow emails and IM's don't really help from my dh, with him so far away.

Sorry so long.

Nicole

kristal · 06-21-2003, 06:01 AM

hello ,
i d like to share my storie too,..though i am not shure about how much lbs is..in holland we measure in kilo s..a kilo is two pounds
since january I lost 37 kilo s..so that would be 74 pounds I guess

I weighed over 300 pounds and am now..230 pounds
I am very happy about it and still going strong! i will succeed!
I will place two pictures so you can see the difference,because i am still not shure about the measuring in the different countries

this is me in september 2002

and this is me now...

love from the netherlands,kristal

soiasmp · 06-25-2003, 07:21 PM

Hi all I just wated to share my success as well. I've lost a total of 67.5 lbs and I have just about 28 to go. I did it by following the IR diet, low carbing combined with a Type 2 diabetic diet. I also exercise every day and lift weights 3-4 times a week. I can't tell you how this has changed my life for the better and for once I feel in control. I'm no longer prisoner to this disease as I once felt.

ak82 · 07-13-2003, 02:12 PM

I've lost 22lbs!! 14 more to go.

Alliance · 07-16-2003, 09:21 AM

Hi Ladies,
I lost 28 lbs on the South Beach Diet. It took me a while to find my right click...you jnow the click that says"This is the one!" Well I was sceptical at first but I stuck to it and it works. I have lost that annoying apple shape,tummy,and now I look like an hour glass figure. My periods are normal. I feel like a new person.

If anyone wants to try it,just go to www.Prevention.com

Plus in a few days I'm going to be a Community leader for the South Beach Diet on www.ivillage.com
It's not up and running yet over there but I'll let you all know when it is. Ivillage is up and running though. I have never been an advocate for anything,but I am now...

boodles77 · 07-17-2003, 10:50 PM

As Maddy requested, here are some then and now pictures of me.

Then:

Now:

I don't even look like the same person!